Malta joins EU call for international peace conference on Gaza and lasting ceasefire

Malta has called on the EU Council to demand a lasting humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, in a letter co-sponsored by Spain, Ireland and Belgium.

The four member states want EU leaders to debate the situation in Gaza next week and jointly call for a lasting humanitarian ceasefire that would end the merciless Israeli bombardment of the Palestinian enclave.

Leaders of the 27 EU countries will meet on 14 December in Brussels to discuss help for Ukraine, fighting off Russian aggression, and a revision of the EU’s long-term budget. The situation in the Middle East is on the agenda as well.

The letter from the four prime ministers, addressed to European Council President Charles Michel who chairs EU summits, stressed the seriousness of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and the possibility of the conflict escalating throughout the region.

They want EU leaders to reach a common position to “urgently ask the parties to declare a lasting humanitarian ceasefire that can lead to the end of hostilities” and ask for measures to immediately protect Gaza civilians.

The four countries also want an international peace conference on Gaza as soon as possible to discuss the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

They said that to prevent the violence from spreading into the West Bank, the assets of violent Israeli settlers who are attacking displaced Palestinian communities should be frozen.

The United States on Friday vetoed a proposed United Nations Security Council demand for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, diplomatically isolating Washington.

13 other members, including Malta, who co-sponsored the UAE resolution, voted in favour, while Britain abstained. The vote came after U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made a rare move on Wednesday to formally warn the 15-member council of a global threat from the war.

In November, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution drafted by Malta calling for “extended humanitarian pauses” in Gaza to allow safe passage for humanitarian aid.

There were 12 votes in favour, three abstentions and none against. The council defeated a Russian attempt to introduce an amendment to the Malta draft, calling for a ceasefire.

The resolution called for these pauses to be for a “sufficient number of days” to enable UN agencies and other international humanitarian organisations deliver “sufficient and unhindered provision of essential goods and services”.

It was the first resolution to be approved by the Security Council after four previous failed attempts.

After the vote the US representative praised Malta for its leadership in getting this resolution through. This was a step forward, she said, although she regretted it did not include condemnation of Hamas.